Improved propeller for steamships



"TUNITED STATES lEhf-rrnrrr @Ferca ARTHUR DOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED PROPELLER FOR STEAMSi-I'IPS.

S'peciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,690, dated September 4, 1866.

ing drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichl Figure l, Sheet No. 1, is a vertical section of a vessel, taken in the line xm, Fig. 2, showing a side View of the propelling apparatus as applied to a stern propeller. Fig. 2 is a vplan of the apparatus. Fig. l, Sheet No. 2,

is a side view of the apparatus as applied to a side propeller. Figs. 2 and 3 are end views. Fig. l, Sheet No. 3, is a section, taken in the line y y, Fig. 2, showing the system of balancerods within the ship for the apparatus when applied to a side propeller. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for propelling steamships; and it consists in an arrangement of paddles or buckets, which always maintain a 'vertical position' in entering the water, moving through and risA ing from it. The dip of the buckets is double or treble that of ordinary paddle-wheels, and may be of any desired depth, presenting in their passage through the water a great area of resisting-surface. The horizontal sweep of the buckets may be as much as ijfty or siXty feet in largesized steamers, and they are arranged in pairs or double sets, so that they enter and withdraw from the water alternately, one set taking the water as the other leaves it, and applying an equal and uniform propeiling power. The movement in the water of the two sets of buckets is similar to that of the web-feet of a duck in swimming, producing great speed and steady motion.

When applied to the sides of a ship the apparatus does not rise above the bulwarks in a state of rest, and the unsightly appendages of wheel-houses, which not only distigure but seriously retard the progress of avessel, especially inv high winds, are dispensed With entirely. Instead of wheel-houses there will be narrow guards only, ush with the bulwarks, which will not in the least mar the symmetry of the lilies ot' a ship and will offer no resistance to the wind.

A stern propelling apparatus is represented by the drawings on Sheet No. l, which in principle is the same as that applied to the sides of a vessel, as represented by the drawings on Sheets Nos. 2 and 3.

In the side apparatus two modes of constructing and applying the vertical buckets are illustrated, one set ot' buckets being at.- tached to aframe of simpler form than the other, either of which maybe employed.

A is the hull of the ship. B in Sheet No. 2 is the simpler, and (l the more complex, form of construction of the side apparatus. The form B works with radial arms only, while the form C has also a slide, in connection `with the radial arms. 1

Flat buckets or plank-blades are bolted at each end 4to horizontal beams or side plates, the buckets being marked a a and the side plates b b in the form B, and a a' and b b in the more complex form C. In the simple form, B, the side beams, b b, are pivoted to two parallel upright arms, c c, which are hung upon a middle cross-head, d, to a crank, c, which is affixed to a main driving-shaft, f. The Lipper ends of the arms c c are united by a cross-head, g, which is pivoted to the end of a radial arm, h, the other end of which plays on a center pin, i, running through a supporting-frame, D, built out on the side of the ship. Below the radial arm Vlt is an auxiliary radial arm, j, also pivoted at one end in the frame D, and at the other end to the outer end, at t, of the pendent piece Z on the cross-head g.

When the shaft f revolves it will be seen that the crank c gives an oscillating movement to the whole apparatus, dipping the buckets a a into the lwater and lifting them from it vertically, while they move through the water in a long horizontal sweep deep. below the sur face in the same position, presenting the whole area of their surface as a resisting medium.

In the form C the side beams, b b', are pivoted to one main central upright arm, c', and two outside half-arms, cZ c2, all of which parts are pivoted to the middle cross-head, d', which,

the same as in the form B, is hung upon a crank, e', aftiXed to a main driving-shaft, f. The upper end of the main upright arm c is pivoted to the radial arm h', Which is also pivoted to the frame D by the pin i. Below the arm h are two radial arms, j jz, pivoted at one end of each to the cross-head d', and connected at the other end of each to the slide x, placed on the side of the vessel and Working in a suitable way or slide-rest.

The operation, it Will be seen, except in the slide movement, is the same in both forms of the propelling apparatus.

Guards E E protect the apparatus.

Inside of the vessel is arranged a system of crank-balances connected with the propelling apparatus. Running longitudinally in the ship are sets of beams Working in connection With oscillating upright bars for this purpose.

Attached to cranks mm' on the main shafts ff are longitudinal beams u u', to which are pivoted the upright bars o o', that are connected by a long horizontal beam,p. One or more intermediate upright bars, 02, are also pivoted as supports to the beam p. The extremities of the beams un are loaded with Weights s s. By means of this arrangement of oscillating beams and bars a perfect balance of the cranks on the main shafts, with their apparatus attached, is maintained when in operation, as the Weight of' one crank, with the propeller that it operates, acts as a counterpoise for the other, as they rise and fall respectively. It will be observed that the weight of the beams is entirely removed from 'the cranks by the balance-weights s s on the ends ofthe short beams n u', which sustain it.

In a stern propeller the general construction of the apparatus is similar, the arrangement being only moditied to adapt it tothe position inside instead of outside of the ship. Within a suitable cavity in the stern ofthe ship the propelling apparatus is placed, consisting of two sets of buckets connected with two main drivin g-shafts, the same as the two shafts connected and applied on the outside of the ship. Both sets of buckets are constructed similar to the simpler form, B, previously described, and the parts all bear the same marks of reference. The balance arrangement consists merely of long horizontal beams qq, Fig. 2, Sheet l, connected with the cranks t t on the main shafts ff, on each side of the propelling apparatus, and ruiming back to the stern, Where they are pivoted to upright bars o3, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, Which Work on a transverse roller, w, in the bottom ot' the vessel.

I do not confine myself to the particular construction of the parts in their proportions and arrangements, as herein described, as they may be modified Without deviation from the principles of operation of my improved propelling apparatus; but

Having fully described the general construction and mode of applying my invention to steamships, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the vertical buckets a a with the side beams, b b, the upright arms c c, the radial arms h j, and the-crank c, with the shafts j', as applied either to the side or stern ofa ship, in connection with the system of balance-beams and oscillating bars, constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

2. The combination of the buckets a a with the side beams, b b', the main central upright arm, c', and the half-arms c2 c2, the radial arms h,j, and jz, the slide x, and the cranke', with the shaft j" as applied to the side of a ship, in connection with the system of balance-beams and oscillating bars, constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

' ARTHUR DOYLE.

Witnesses:

WM. F. MGNAMARA, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

